So far, the most bandied-about figure on the reach of cybercrime is approximately $100 billion a year, but it is hard to quantify and there is no definitive report that meticulously crunches the numbers.

The new strategy is a continuation of ministers taking more interest in fidgeting cybercrime, which is seen as a serious obstacle for plans to make government service available over the web as well as the growth of eCommerce.

Cybercrime is of increasing concern to businesses and the federal government, with President Barack Obama calling cybercrime one of the "most serious economic and national security challenges we face."